Recognition of Prior Learning: Foreign Qualification Recognition Workshop for Professional Regulatory Organizations

Transcription

1 Recognition of Prior Learning: Foreign Qualification Recognition Workshop for Professional Regulatory Organizations Bonnie Kennedy, Executive Director The Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA) and Susan Simosko Simosko Associates Inc. Edmonton, AB June 2, 2016

2 About CAPLA Began in 1994, incorporated not-for profit, Canada s only PLAR membership organization, an elected Board of Directors Advocates for formal recognition of knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through work and life experience; support for those seeking recognition for their prior learning Provides professional development opportunities (webinars, yearly conferences, training), creates working groups, Strategic Advisory Panel for the Recognition of Prior Learning Partners with a range of stakeholders to bring about change

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5 Advancing PLAR in Alberta - an Action Plan (2008) Collaboration with International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS) Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) Pan-Canadian Council on Admissions and Transfer (PCCAT) CAPLA Board of Directors

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17 Brain Gain 2015: The State of Canada s Learning Recognition System Dr. Michael Bloom Vice President, Industry and Business Strategy The Conference Board of Canada Canadian Immigration Summit 2016 April 5, 2016

18 Options for Action Immigration Strategies. Modify immigration processes to include learning recognition services in selection and settlement systems. Align governments immigration and workforce development policies. Extend Canadian PSE curriculum, pedagogy and programs into immigration source countries to generate Canada-wide recognized credentials, certified by govt and PSE.

19 Options for Action Improve Openness and Transparency of Existing Recognition Systems PSE institutional leaders need to drive the change to greater transparency in recognition processes. Current PSE system lacks transparency discourages immigrant recognition seekers. Many PSE institutions do not provide recognition seekers with basic information on requirements or the content of articulation and credit transfer agreements.

20 Options for Action Expand Use of PLAR Systems and Tools and Communicate Widely. Nine guiding principles: accessible, consistent, fair, respectful, valid, flexible, rigorous, transparent. CAPLA s Manual: Quality Assurance for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Canada (2015) is the leading guide/toolkit. Provides organizations and institutions with a clear framework for developing, implementing RPL.

21 Options for Action Employer Engagement. Engage in partnerships with public education and credentialing bodies to implement in/for workplaces. Connect recognition processes with recruiting, development and promotion of immigrant employees. Work with government to develop private sector credentials or public/private co-granted credentials that are recognized by government accredited PSE institutions.

22 Conclusion Impacts and Action. Learning recognition gap is larger than ever more immigrants are experiencing more lost income and career limitations. Addressing the problem is core element of Conference Board s forthcoming National Immigration Action Plan and Skills and Post- Secondary Education Strategy. Investing in learning recognition for immigrants will yield high returns for Canada!

23 Combining current challenges with ideas for improvement in labour market integration and skills training A multi-stakeholder skills recognition strategy that would include referral capacity for assessment and recognition of all prior learning (formal, informal, non-formal) for immigrants and refugees Implementation of and referral to quality-assured RPL services delivered by trained career advisors and assessors, using Canadian RPL QA guidelines and processes

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